Internet Developers

Most employers seek Web developers with at least one to two years of experience for entry-level positions. This experience may have been earned through volunteer or intern positions, but some basic experience is required in order to obtain that first job. To get the next-level job, you need to have about three to five years of on-the-job experience, and more for upper level positions.

Web developers must be very detail oriented. Missing one detail of code can have a huge impact on a Web site and its functionality. Developers often have to work extended hours to meet client deadlines, and should be willing to continually learn new programming languages.

A good Internet developer balances technological know-how with creativity. You must be able to make a site stand out from the sea of other sites on the Web. For example, if your company is selling a product on the Web, your site needs to "scream" the unique qualities and benefits of the product.

Working with Internet technologies, you must be able to adapt quickly to change. It is not uncommon to learn a new programming language and get comfortable using it, only to have to learn another new language and scrap the old one. If you're a quick study, then you should have an advantage.

Finally, Web developers must have search engine optimization and marketing skills and have knowledge of how to collect and analyze metrics from their site (such as how many unique visitors they get and how many are converted to customers). Additionally, Web developers need knowledge of programming languages, such as JavaScript, HTML, and SQL.